page_title: New South Wales Government Architect
section_title: James Barnet (1862–1890)
hierarchical_section_title: New South Wales Government Architect / Colonial architects / James Barnet (1862–1890)
context_page_description: The New South Wales Government Architect, an appointed officer of the Government of New South Wales, serves as the General Manager of the Government Architect's Office, a multi-disciplinary consultancy operating on commercial principles providing architecture, design, and engineering services, that is an agency of the government within NSW Public Works.
  Historically, the government architect was in charge of the government's public building projects across the state of New South Wales, Australia. Since the 1990s, when the consultancy service began operating on commercial principles, the Government Architect has reported separately in a second capacity, as an advisor to the government, and serves on various committees and boards in relation to heritage protection, architecture, and design.
  The first officer in the role, then styled Colonial Architect, was Francis Greenway, appointed in 1816.
context_section_description: Barnet was appointed by Governor John Young (1861–1867). He served under Governors Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore (1868–1872), Sir Hercules Robinson (1872–1879), Lord Augustus Loftus (1879–1885), and Charles Wynn-Carington, 3rd Baron Carrington (1885–1890).
  During Barnet's career, the Colonial Architect's office produced over 1,350 works. He listed on his retirement 169 Post and Telegraph offices, 130 Courthouses, 155 Police Stations, 110 lock ups and 20 lighthouses. One of Barnet's most impressive achievements was the Garden Palace, opened in 1879 as the venue for the International Exhibition of that year. The building was destroyed by fire in 1882. During his time as Colonial Architect there were 20 separate Parliaments, 16 Ministers and nine different Premiers. He made more visible impact on the colony than any other public servant of his time. Barnet resigned as Colonial Architect on 30 June 1890. Shortly afterwards the Colonial Architect's Department was abolished.
caption: James Barnet
exif: {}